Friday, January 13, 2012

[ZESTCaste] Dalit ‘rape’ victim in coma, BJP wants CBI probe

Dalit 'rape' victim in coma, BJP wants CBI probeDebabrata Mohanty Posted online: Fri Jan 13 2012, 03:42 hrsPipili, Cuttack : An 18-year-old Dalit girl of Arjunagoda in Pipiliblock of Puri district lies in coma in the SCB Medical College andHospital, Cuttack. A man from her village had allegedly raped andstrangulated her in November last year. The case was handed over tothe CID-CB of Orissa Police two days ago following uproar that thepolice were hand in glove with the assailants. The BJP has demanded aCBI probe into the case.

The victim's brother has alleged that Pipili MLA and AgricultureMinister Pradip Maharathi is sheltering the accused, but the ministerhas denied it. The Orissa High Court has asked the police to submit astatus report within a week, while Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hasordered an inquiry.

The girl's family says that Pasei Pradhan, who wanted to marry her,along with his brother, allegedly raped and strangulated her. Thestrangulation resulted in her slipping into a coma. As the girl'sfamily took her to a Pipili hospital, the doctors referred them toCapital Hospital, Bhubaneswar, where the doctors referred them to SCBMedical College and Hospital, Cuttack.

"In Cuttack, doctors initially refused to admit her. Though they lateradmitted her, she was made to lie on the floor. A fortnight later, adoctor threatened to use the police to evict us," said her aunt.

The family took her to the Orissa Human Rights Commission,d which senther back to the hospital.